2007-01-11 11:40:00 PST OAKLAND -- Buffy, a 7-year-old German shepherd, may lose a leg after being shot trying to protect her owner from being robbed outside their East Oakland home on Wednesday night.

The dog managed to fend off the assailant, but not before being shot in her left front leg.

Now, Buffy is awaiting surgery and may lose the limb, Lagree Bartley, 49, the wife of the victim, said today.

"She just had an instinct and she jumped him," Bartley said. "All we know is that he shot at her twice. He hit her once and her leg may have to be amputated."

The incident happened about 7:15 p.m. Wednesday when Bartley's husband, whose name she didn't want released, left his cell phone store near 92nd Avenue and International Boulevard in East Oakland.

Bartley said she believes the robber followed her husband in a car to their home near 96th Avenue and Olive Street, about six blocks away.

As her husband got out of his car to open a gate at their home, Buffy, who was in the yard, bounded up to him in her usual greeting, Bartley said.

But as Bartley's husband started to get back into his car, he was accosted by a gunman who pointed a weapon at his chest, Bartley said.

The assailant, who at that point didn't realize Buffy was there, robbed him of his wallet, which included about $400, credit cards and his identification, Bartley said.

At that point, Buffy sprang into action.

"She jumped and lunged at the guy with the gun, and he turned from my husband and shot her in the left front leg," Bartley said.

The gunman fled on foot and may have gotten into a white Pontiac, she said.

Oakland police today confirmed the robbery and shooting.

As investigators searched for the gunman, Buffy was being treated at Bay Area Veterinary Specialists in San Leandro, her leg encased in a red cast decorated with a pink heart.

"Buffy is resting comfortably. We're evaluating the leg to see if we can save it. We're also evaluating a pre-existing kidney problem," Dr. Doug Rohn said today through an office representative.

Bartley is hoping for the best for a pet that has been part of the family since the animal was just 6 weeks old. Buffy is naturally very protective, Bartley said.

"She's been given love and she gives love," she said. "No matter who's in front of her, she won't let children fight each other, she won't let me get too close to my husband if we're play-fighting -- she's against violence, period."

Bartley's son, Marcus Bartley, 14, agreed, saying, "She's always been a loving dog. She's not one to just watch us all play-fight or anything. She gets in the middle of it. She's always been like the peace dog."

Lagree Bartley said she and her husband have contemplated whether to leave their home of three decades because of recent violence in the area.

"I have confined myself so much, we came to the point where we wanted to move after 30 years. We put up gates -- there were no fence or gates when we moved here -- we've seen it evolve into what it is now," Bartley said.

"We just keep with the Lord, keep with God," she said. "I'm very religious. At this point, last night, we didn't know if we should run or we should stay."